Tag Archives: google

I have some new updates which I didn’t post online yet. First of all, the new 2.1+ versions got Power Schedule users back. Yes, the 2.0 version was quite a disaster, as it was quite complicated to use. Also the point system was not sufficiently explained. Here’s the chart from Google Play:
Anyhow, I’m glad things are getting back on track.
Also, the new 2.1.2 version is translated to Slovak, French and Romanian (more languages to come). By the way, if you know Japanese, Italian or Spanish and want to help me out with the translation, drop me a message.
Today I just uploaded the “point free” Power Schedule version to Amazon Appstore and SlideME alternative Android markets. Yes, it seems they are more open to developers, as they allow me to sell apps there. Power Schedule “unlimited events” edition costs just 0.99$. If you don’t like the point system, you can get the paid version. No ads, no points – just events. As many as you like 🙂

It will take a few days until the Amazon and SlideME staff review and approve the app (hopefully :)). I will post the purchasing links then.

Also, stay tuned for an income report update. This time, from AdMob, Leadbolt and Tapjoy.

To be fair and help other developers, I decided I will also publish regular reports on the income from ads. Right now, I included ads from LeadBolt (referral link). Why not AdMob? Well, to tell you the truth, I’m still mad at Google for not allowing developers from most countries sell apps on Google Market (now Google Play Shop).

One of the users wrote me an e-mail that after uninstalling Power Schedule, when he turned on Airplane Mode, WiFi was still enabled. This is because Power Schedule (and others) change this setting to allow individual control over WiFi, Bluetooth and Telephony. Since the application being uninstalled is not notified it’s being uninstalled, it has no chance of cleaning up (and restoring previous settings). This is how Android is designed (a bit of a flaw, in my opinion – on Windows Mobile an application was notified before uninstall).

Anyway, I wrote a small app to restore the settings. Download and install it using Astro or whatever file manager you have on your device.
Here’s the link:
{filelink=1}

It’s been 42 degrees Celsius (Google says that’s 107.6 F) in Timisoara last weekend, so I couldn’t take it anymore. Tomorrow I’m heading for Barcelona, where AccuWeather says it’s around 27 C (80.6 F). Based on what I learned in school, these temperatures should be quite the opposite. Then again, weather’s changing.
Anyhow, the trip was not so spontaneous – I’ve bought the tickets back in May :).

I’m working hard for version 2 (which was basically rewritten), however I made this minor update (1.4), due to users complaining “Data Connection” doesn’t work on Gingerbread devices (see this article to understand why: Google is destroying Android). Basically, in 1.4 you will get a warning message when trying to access the Data Connection menu, with a link to the open issue at Google. Please star it to support developers (not just myself) – and not let Google create a(nother) precedent.

I received some disturbing news from some users. It seems the “Data Connectivity” does not work any more on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). So I wanted to know why is this happening. Well, Google decided that a certain permission (MODIFY_PHONE_STATE) is no longer for us mere mortals, and only system applications are allowed to use it.
This permission is required for quite a number of apps in the Market, not just mine, so it will break ALL of them.

They did this before: they didn’t allow apps to change the GPS status, for example (starting with 1.5). Their reason is “privacy”. If the user wants his GPS off, it should stay off (of course, this doesn’t prevent Google – or Apple, for that matter – from tracking you). So no “track my girlfriend” kind of apps are possible 😉

Anyhow, to get serious. Google chose this security model for apps, where if the user knows that an application does need to do something and he allows it, it should be allowed to do so.
So why shouldn’t an application that specifically says it will enable / disable data connection (or GPS etc.) be allowed to do it ?!

I have *some* Windows Mobile development background, and I always blamed Microsoft for using their complicate signing procedure for applications. But it turns out this model is more “open” than Google’s:
– if an app was signed with a “privileged” certificate, it could access all functionality
– if an app wasn’t signed (or signed with an “unprivileged” certificate), it didn’t have access to all areas
These certificates were kind of hard to get (complicate procedure, paperwork etc.), but in the end they were linked to your person / company, so evil-doers *wink* could be easily identified.
So this model opened up a lot of possibilities for developers and apps.

Frankly, I don’t like how Google reacts to bad apps. They see a bad-acting app and what do they do? “Oh, we’ll lock this function up. Easy.”. They will do this until apps are only allowed display “Hello, world!”, and only for a limited amount of time.

I’ve been working on a brand new Power Schedule (I will call it 2.0, since it’s re-written from the ground up). The problem I’m still facing is that the user interface is getting quite complex (and by that, I mean the app is now larger in size). Unfortunately, Android has a BIG limitation when you’re trying to some special things (like having background services running): you must install the app in internal memory. And this is what users hate most, they’re running out of internal storage space quite quickly.
Therefore, you end up with a lot of angry users uninstalling apps.

So what to do then? Make the User Interface simpler? It’s not “fancy” enough for some. Install the app on SD Card? Not possible for this kind of app. Hopefully either Google comes up with a better solution for this situation, or manufacturers add more internal memory to their phones.

HTC is busy these days at Mobile World Congress, in Barcelona. They just launched their first tablet and a series of new smartphones… some which feature a dedicated “Facebook” key. I’m sure people waste too much time on existing devices with Sense, until they get to open Facebook. Therefore, the need for a special key. 🙂
See more here and here

On a side note, Power Schedule has reached 500 downloads – not so bad for my first app (but these Market stats update so slowly – c’mon Google). Anyhow, I plan to release an update these days (1.2) – it’s mainly some UI improvements, to make it more intuitive for new users. If anyone can help with translations in other languages, I would appreciate it. Just drop me a message.